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plug

(plŭg)

1. An object, such as a cork or a wad of cloth, used to fill a hole tightly; a stopper.

2. A dense mass of material that obstructs a passage.

3. A usually cylindrical or conic piece cut from something larger, often as a sample.

4. Electricity

a. A fitting, commonly with two metal prongs for insertion in a fixed socket, used to connect an appliance to a power supply.

b. A spark plug.

5. A hydrant.

a. A flat cake of pressed or twisted tobacco.

b. A piece of chewing tobacco.

7. Geology A mass of igneous rock filling the vent of a volcano.

8. Informal A favorable public mention of a commercial product, business, or performance, especially when broadcast.

9. Slang Something inferior, useless, or defective, especially an old, worn-out horse.

10. Slang A gunshot or bullet: a plug in the back.

11. A fishing lure having a hook or hooks.

v. plugged, plug·ging, plugs

v. tr.

1. To fill (a hole) tightly with or as if with a plug; stop up.

2. To insert (something) as a plug: plugged a cork in the bottle.

3. To insert in an appropriate place or position: plug a quarter into the parking meter; plugged the variables into the equation.

4. Slang

a. To hit with a bullet; shoot.

b. To hit with the fist; punch.

5. Informal To publicize (a product, for example) favorably, as by mentioning on a broadcast: authors who plug their latest books on TV talk shows.

v. intr.

1. To become stopped up or obstructed: a gutter that plugged up with leaves.

2. Informal To move or work doggedly and persistently: “You may plug along fifty years before you get anywhere” (Saul Bellow).

Phrasal Verbs:

plug in

1. To connect (an appliance) to an electrical outlet.

2. To function by being connected to an electrical outlet: a power drill that plugs in.

3. Slang To cause (someone) to use a computer network, the internet, or an electronic device.

4. Slang To become informed about or involved with: was eager to plug in to the campus social scene.

plug into

1. To connect or be connected in the manner of an electrical appliance: The local system is plugged into the national telephone network. This computer plugs into a data bank.

2. Slang To cause (someone) to use a computer network, the internet, or an electronic device.

3. Slang To cause to be informed about or involved with: connoisseurs who are plugged into the current art scene.

[Dutch, from Middle Dutch plugge.]

plugger n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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